Dick Kurtz wrote with a response to an inquiry posed by Brad Karoleff: In
this venue and in Volume 25-3 of the “John Reich Journal”, Brad
Karoleff asks the following question which, in my opinion, is both
timely and appropriate: “Has rarity lost its luster?” With today’s
emphasis on quality, one wonders if completion of a variety set of any
denomination is no longer the goal.
Visiting Canada with French
friends in 1984, I crossed the border to spend one day at the ANA show
in Detroit. Attending the BHNC open meeting, I expressed my interest in
becoming a member. On the way in, the first dealer table I saw had a 2x2
marked “1824/1” and “$45.” Taking a look, it was a VF30 O.102, today an
R-5+. It turned out that $45 was the dealer’s cost, and he wanted $50.
Sold! Everyone at the meeting who saw the coin wanted to buy it. Would
today’s members, especially newer ones, be excited by that find? How
about a year or so later, when I purchased a VF30 1814 single leaf and a
VF20 1830 O.114 (with light scratches) from a dealer for $65 total? I
suspect that many would not want either, especially the ’30.
Looking
back at the sales of the Reiver and Whitham collections, some of their
halves ended up in “details” holders. Acquiring the variety was king in
those days, with 3
rd party grading in its infancy, and 4
th
party opinions (CAC stickers) not coming on the scene for decades.
Certainly those respected collectors wanted the highest grade that they
could find (and afford), but they wouldn’t turn up their noses at a
rarity because it wasn’t a high grade, had “problems”, or wouldn’t end
up in a stickered slab.
I’ve seen many changes in the numismatic
scene over the years. As a nearly 10 year old, I received my first bust
halves from my grandmother in 1945, and purchased bust halves for the
first time at a Bowers & Ruddy (Empire Coin Company) auction in
1962. To me, the biggest change ever is rarity losing its luster, with
PCGS and (to a lesser degree) NGC dominating the hobby. If I were 10
years old today, I wouldn’t get involved with coins unless Daddy
Warbucks was my grandpa.
Richard Kurtz, JRCS 049; BHNC 052
------
Finally,
we have this contribution from Jim Matthews. Jim offers some thoughts
upon the close of Part 1 of the sale of the Kirk Gorman collection of
Capped Bust Dimes:
The auction of Part I of the Kirk Gorman
Collection is now history. While Capped Bust Dime collectors had a rare
chance of securing rarities for their collections, everyone knew this
sale would be a challenge and prices would be strong for both coins of
high condition and the rare varieties. The Gorman Collection was formed
over the past two decades, and like most collectors, Kirk was able to
obtain a mix of high grade coins along with some key rarities to this
series. While many collectors are striving for a complete collection (or
nearly so other than the ultra rare 1827 JR-14 with 2 examples
currently known), the balance of the collection is sort of obtainable,
as many of the previously R-7 or R-6 varieties have turned up in
sufficient numbers that most can be obtained over time. There had been a
flurry of great dime collections offered from the Russell Logan
Collection (2002), the Harmon Collection (2005) and the Jules Reiver
Collection (2006) offered in the past decade. Then the supply went
silent for some time, and it was not until the David J. Davis Collection
was auctioned a few years ago that a truly memorable dime variety
collection was available.
The initial offering by W. David
Perkins of the Kirk Gorman Collection was done in two parts. Some of the
coins were offered at Fixed Prices and others were sold in a Sealed Bid
sale at one increment over the second highest bid. While there were
many highlights, it is significant to note that all the Sealed Bid coins
from the Gorman Collection were sold. In the past when great
collections have been auctioned, I am always amazed at the rarities and
how strong the prices are, yet the more plentiful issues seem to go for
reasonable levels, sometimes bargains in fact! In the end the final
results are always enlightening.
Highlights of the Gorman Collection include these rarities:
1820 JR-5, R-4, PCGS MS62 $3,795. Condition rarity, always a winning combination
1820 JR-12, R-5+, PCGS AU53 $14,779. - a coin with great color and surfaces--and high condition census!
1824/2
JR-1, R-1, PCGS AU53 $3,542. Fantastic color toning on this tough high
grade issue, with lots of disappointed under-bidders here.
1825 JR-5,
R-4, PCGS MS61 $5,094. This coin had previously been NGC MS64 and will
likely upgrade, great color and surfaces on a tough variety!
1833 JR-7, R-4+, PCGS MS62 $11,500. Condition Rarity and handsome color--a winning combination again.
1837
JR-1, R-4-, PCGS MS62 $3,928. Here again, a tough coin to find in Mint
State, or high grade at all, with many collectors seeking such an
example.
Part II of the Kirk Gorman Collection will by offered by
W. David Perkins at ANA show this summer, with some coins in the Fixed
Price List and the balance in the Sealed Bid Auction. I'm sure everyone
will be looking forward to that session where even more rarities and
condition quality coins will be available. Highlights include the 1821
JR-2 and 1827 JR-2 and many others.
While cataloging Part I of
the Gorman Collection, it was a great pleasure to see the consistent
quality of the coins. Kirk really has an eye for quality, and often
found coins with vivid colorful toning. These coins offer the greatest
eye candy imaginable and often sell for far more than more typical
silver-gray examples. One need look no further than his 1824 JR-1 dime
that just sold, several collectors placed bids, and that coin sold for
much more than expected (as did several others!), simply because the
colors were so fantastic. Simply put, once a coin like that is secured,
there is never a need to replace it, and no collector ever gets tired of
looking at something so beautiful! So, stay tuned for the next offering
of Part II of the Kirk Gorman Collection.
Jim Matthews
